Scioto Ice - Day 68

  We chose to do fewer miles again today because of snow and ice. For one thing, it made the driving time take longer because not all roads are cleared yet. Yesterday, we would not have been able to get a car to the end point we used today. We were mostly hiking in the Scioto Trail State Forest.

The ice on the trees had not yet melted off, but with the sun out all day it was gorgeous! Pictures just can't capture the beauty, but I kept trying.

Vistas sparkled!

I'm not sure I've ever seen ice crystals form on a dry rock before.

I think my favorites are the black branches covered with ice against the deep blue sky.

I got a lucky shot of a red-shouldered hawk! And you can really see why it has that name.

We did see a few trees newly fallen on or near the trail from the ice, but only a couple were serious obstacles. Of more concern to us was that by early afternoon, the temperature was well above freezing and ice and twigs were raining down on us. We were glad we chose a mileage that got us out of the woods before that got any worse. We did one garbage-bag creek ford, and a whole lot of crossings where we were able to walk across on rocks and/or ice. One other creek would have bags, but we were able to follow it to a road culvert and get across. The trail should probably just be routed there.

Miles today: 8.4. Total miles so far 899.4 (what a squeaker- not quite 900)

Bonus section: Music!

Our hosts, Jeff and Kathy are musical, and we coaxed them into playing some songs for us last night. Before we were done, we got out a hymnal and had our own hymn sing. What fun, and I went to sleep with the strains of "Great is Thy Faithfulness" with cello and flute echoing in my head. Can't beat that!

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